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(No Model.)

- G. CROUCH.

'SPRING GATGH FOR TRUNKS, 8w. No. 354,597. Patented-Dec. 21, 1886.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGECROUOH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPRING-CATCH FOR TRuNKs, a...

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,597, dated December 21, 1886.

Application filed July 26, 1886. Serial No. 209,108. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE CROUCH, of the city and State of New York, have invented an, Improvement in Spring-Catches, 'of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a spring-catch for holding a trunk flap or lid or similar device when the same is closed.

I make use of' a spring-claw, preferably of wire, and a conicalnosing or button over which the claw is pressed when the lid or flap is closed, and the claw springs into a neck below the conical head, so as to hold the parts shut, and when the catch is to be opened the claws are forced apart by inclines acting against a stationary cam when an end move ment is given to the wire body of the claw.

This catch is simple, easily constructed, and not liable to injury in use.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the catch with part of the case removed; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, partially in elevation.

The lockcase A is preferably of sheet metal bent up with the flanges 2, that receive the attaching pins or screws. The end flange, 4, is notched for the passage of the bent or folded wire B. The ends of this wire form the claws 5, and at 6 is the loop by which the wire can be moved endwise in opening and closing the claws. There is a stationary cam, 8, upon the inner surface of the case A, and the wire B is spread apart to pass at opposite sides of this cam 8, and the two legs of this bent wire are inclined at 9, where they are adjacent to the cam 8. A cap-plate, 10, serves to hold the spring-wire of the claw in the proper position. The nosing or button is made with a conical head, E, and a neck, 11, between the head and the attaching-plate 12.

It will now be understood that when .the trunk flap or lid is moved for closing the same the spring-claw passes down over the nosing or conical button and the claw is spread apart by the cone and it springs back again into the neck below the cone, so that the claw holds,

the lid or flap firmly to the conicalbutton. If, new, the loop 6 be pulled'upon to draw the spring-latch along in the case, the inclines 9 upon the legs coming into contact with the stationary cam 8 cause the claws to open sufficiently to clear the neck of the nosing or button, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1;

but to render it unnecessary to give the catch GEO. CROUCH.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINOKNEY, WALLACE L. SERRELL. 

